Transversely curved aerial toy with weighted nose



Nov. 21, 1967 J, N Y 3,353,295

TRANSVERSELY, GURVED AERIAL DO WITH WEIGHTED NOSE Filed March 10, 1966INVENTOR.

JOHN T. DOWNEY.

"F162 FIGZA United States Patent 3,353,295 TRANSVERSELY CURVED AERIALTOY WITH WEIGHTED NOSE John T. Downey, 556 Oxford St., Westbury, N.Y.11590 Filed Mar. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 533,525 1 Claim. (CI. 4674) Thisinvention relates to aerial toys. This invention is an airflight devicethat has flight characteristics such that it can be propelled verticallyinto the air to substantial altitudes of from approximately 50 feet upto, including and exceeding 250 feet, climbing in a vertical attitudelike a rocket, bullet or arrow, and then at or near the summit, flipover to assume a horizontal attitude, spinning as it does this, and thendescend to the ground in a spinning motion, flying, gliding, driftingand riding the air currents, breezes and thermals.

An object of this invention is to provide an amusing toy for people toplay with, one that will climb vertically to a substantial altitudewhere it will spin without assistance as it descends, its speed ofrotation or spinning motion increasing in the descent until it reaches aterminal velocity. The device may also be used for aerial dro s ofequipment, supplies, flares, cameras or other objects within the rangeand scope of its design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of low costconstruction with no moving parts, such that its design will incorporateflight characteristics that will permit it to be propelled to highaltitudes in a straight path before it slows to the point where itstendency to spin predominates and the device flips over to .a horizontalattitude and it begins to spin, whereupon it continues to spinthroughout the entire descent.

Another object of the invention is to improve the flight characteristicsand performance of aerial spinning toys such that this device may bemechanically propelled to substantially higher altitudes than similarspinning devices and that its special design will allow it to descend ata slower rate.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view showing the general shape on a two dimensionalbasis. This shape is similar to that of a propeller blade or a mapleseed pod.

FIGURES 2 and 2A are enlarged cross sectional views on the line 2-2showing the airfoil which has a thicker leading edge and thinnertrailing edge and mid-area.

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation looking forward from the trailingedge to the leading edge showing the leading edge to be level and'thetrailing edge also level from the mid-section at lines 22 to the tip.

FIGURE 4 is'a schematic'view showing the launching of the device intothe air.

Referring to the drawings, the main elements are vane V having a leadingedge 1, tip 2, trailing edge 3, nose 4, launch hook 5 and theapproximate position of the center of gravity 6.

This invention relates to the improvement in aerial toys, the object ofthe invention being to provide a device which may be propelledmechanically into the .air with a large rubber band, to a high altitudewhere it will assume a horizontal attitude, begin to spin, and descendto the ground at a slow rate as it continues to spin.

The general shape and spinning characteristics of the invention aresimilar to that of a maple seed pod and also to the devices described inPatent Nos. 1,413,316 and 913,381. However, my invention providescertain substantial improvements which I will specifically describelater. The results of these improvements will allow my invention to bepropelled vertically to altitudes of from approximately 50 feet up to,including and exceeding 250 feet, the height depending upon suchvariable "ice factors as wind conditions, stability or steadiness oflaunch, trueness of airfoil and undamaged nose design, and the force ofthe launch.

An average launch for a device of 3 to 4 inches long is approximatelyfeet; however, it is possible to reach altitudes of over 300 feet. Thedevices described in Patent Nos. 1,413,316 and 913,381 both incorporatea flat flexible vane or wing which will cause the device to beginspinning immediately or within a few feet when it is thrown or launchedinto the air. This is physically and aerodynamically nothing more than amaple seed pod which Patent No. 1,413,316 relates itself to. A flat vanedevice has no stability along its longitudinal axis, which as shown inmy drawings, is an imaginary line from the nose to the tip. Using aflexible vane as described in Patent No. 1,413,316 will add to itsinstability causing air to burble," i.e. cause, eddy currents as itpasses over its surface resulting in early or immediate spinning. Myvane V, is rigid and uses an airfoil and relatively blunted nose 4 oflarge area which will allow the device to climb vertically stable at ahigh rate of speed to a substantially high altitude where at or near theapex, as its speed decreases, the tendency to spin predominates causingthe device to flip to a horizontal attitude and begin to spin,continuing to spin as it descends. The devices described in Patent Nos.1,413,316 and 913,381 have spinning qualities only. My invention willnot only spin, but will climb like an arrow or bullet in a verticalflight path for a considerable distance before it begins to spin. Myinvention incorporates both these flight characteristics which willbecome more apparent.

The function and advantages of the new designs and additions will beevident as I describe the design and purpose of the various areas of thedevice.

Airfoil The airfoil, FIGURES 2 and 2A, will provide two very importantcontributions to the flight characteristics of the invention. Whenlaunched in a vertical attitude, the airfoil will give increasedstability along the longi tudinal axis to thereby gain a substantialaltitude. Secondly, this airfoil will also provide lift, exactly as thatof an airplanes wing, when the device is spinning in a horizontalposition. This lift will slow its rate of descent considerably-Withoutthis airfoil the device starts to spin immediately upon launch, will notclimb more than a few feet and will descend at a faster rate because ithas no appreciable lift. The airfoil will allow it to better ridethermals, vertical air currents and even build a cushion of air beneathit on which to ride. This also contributes 'to'a slower rate of descent.As shown in the accompanying drawings, the leading edge 1 immediatelyaft of the 'nose 4 is flat or level. The tip 2 is curved like that of apropeller tip or aircraft Wingtip and the trailing edge 3 from thewidest part or midsection and marked with the line 2-2 in the drawings,to the wing tip is also level and in line with the leading edge 1. Theairfoil may also be of flat sections 10 and 11 as shown in FIGURE 2A.

Specifically, if the device were to be positioned on a flat or levelsurface with the nose 4 just protruding over the edge, the leading edge1, tip 2 and trailing edge from the tip 2 to the midsection or line 2--2would all touch the flat surface and be level. The remaining trailingedge from the midsection to the nose is not level or in line with theleading edge, but is so designed as to allow for a uniform airfoil asshown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Nose

The nose 4 is relatively blunt and slightly rounded on the end, with thegreatest area and substance at the forward end, the purpose of which isto increase stability along the longitudinal axis thereby providing anaerodynamic design such that the device will not tumble or spin at highspeeds. Its design and action can be described as that very similar tothat of our present-day space capsules which our astronauts use tore-enter the atmosphere. Anything other than a relatively wide andblunted nose would cause the capsule to spin and tumble as provenexperimentally.

The large mass of material comprising the nose of my invention alsoprovides the necessary weight, or counter balance required to make thedevice spin when in a horizontal attitude or position.

Leading edge The leading edge 1 is straight and is thicker than themid-area or trailing edge, providing the necessary weight to readilystart the device spinning in the desired direction, which is toward theleading edge. This thickness or weight extends the full length of theleading edge and the added weight toward the tip acts as counter-balancethereby increasing the rate of spin when in a horizontal attitude andthus provides a slower rate of descent.

Launch hook The launch hook is positioned on top immediately aft of thenose 4, but forward of the center of gravity 6, and may be anyplace on astraight line forward of the center of gravity such that if the deviceis suspended vertically from any point on this line, the leading edge 1of the device will be perpendicular to the ground. The launch hook 5 inthis position will increase the stability of the launch resulting in ahigher altitude before the device begins to spin. Referring to FIGURE 4,the device may be launched with a sling shot or catapult device C havinga rubber band B adapted to engage the launch hook 5.

Construction is preferably of molded plastic, aluminum, sheet metal orother adequate desirable material, rigid and light in property. While Ihave shown and described the preferred design and construction, it is tobe understood that the important improvements in this device are theairfoil, wide area blunted nose, weighted leading edge extending thefull length and strategically placed launched hook which will allow forthe improved flight characteristics and performance.

The preferred construction is molded in one piece but may be constructedof various parts and materials if so desired.

Differences between this design and that of Patent Nos. 1,413,316 and913,381 are:

(1) This device incorporates an airfoil for reasons described.

(2) This device incorporates a vane or wing which is rigid rather thanflexible, for reasons described.

(3) This device incorporates a nose which is relatively blunt and widerat the forward end for reasons described.

(4) This device incorporates a hook so as to be mechanically launched byuse of a large rubber band fastened to the end of the stick.

(5) This device incorporates a full length weighted lead-ingedge forreasons described.

These differences in design produce the improved flight characteristicsand results previously described.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claim.

I claim:

An aerial toy comprising a rigid vane airfoil, said vane having a nosethicker than the remainder of said vane, opposite the tip, launchinghook means connected to said vane on a straight line between said noseand the center of gravity of said vane, said vane having a Weightedleading edge and said vane being shaped so that the leading edge, tip,and trailing edge from the widest point on its midsection to the tip arelevel and in line with each other such that if the device were to beplaced on a level or flat surface with the nose just protruding over theedge, all points along the leading edge, tip and trailing edge justdescribed would touch the surface and be level, said weighted edge andconfiguration of said vane comprising means increasing stability alongthe longitudinal axis when being propelled in a vertical attitude andgiving lift to the device when it is spinning in a horizontal attitude,said vane nose including nose means which is relatively blunt andtapering to a wider area on the forward end which gives stability alongthe longitudinal axis when the device is propelled in a verticalattitude into the air thus preventing premature spinning and allowingthe device to climb to a high altitude before it begins to spin, saidlaunch hook means being on the top of the airfoil adjacent and forwardof the center of gravity and in line with the center .of gravity suchthat if the device is suspended vertically from this hook, the leadingedge will be perpendicular to the ground, said vane having its upper andlower surfaces transversely arcuate in the same direction producing atransverse curvature forming an airfoil, said forward edge being thickerthan the mid-area and trailing edge so as to provide the necessaryweight to assist the device to spin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,381 2/1909 Hay 46-741,901,957 3/ 1933 Girdwood.

2,615,281 10/1952 Main 46-74 2,921,404 1/1960 Lescher 46-74 FORElGNPATENTS 641,589 8/1950 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

L. J. BQVASSO, T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

